Archive for June, 2010

Maria called me last night in need of knitting help. It took a while for me to figure out what her problem was, then she couldn’t figure out what I was saying. It was decided that she had better come up. So, around 2:30 she showed up with Leslie. It didn’t take long to fix her knitting. I hope she remembers what I did. Since they were here, I dragged out all the yarn and needles that I didn’t want. They took about two-thirds of it. Maria suggested keeping the rest for newbies that come to knitting group to help get them started. I made blueberry almond coffee cake and iced tea. We had a pleasant afternoon discussing patterns, needles, and yarn.

It’s been too hot to do much of anything outside this weekend. We took Gus for his walk first thing in the morning and spent the rest of the day inside working in the yarn room. I looked into every bag and box. Now, I’ve got two more bags to give to Goodwill and five for my friends if they want any of it. I still have more than I’ll use in my lifetime, but it’s too nice to give away. I may put some of it on Ravelry, but I’m not ready for that decision. Maybe after the room is finished.

Flo was not helpful. As a matter of fact, she said we were bothering her.

I have finished one sock. It’s been fun. I changed a couple of things including making a shorter leg.

I took several shots of the sweater, but I didn’t like any of them. I probably should have used my good camera. No. I should have gotten Doug to model it for me. He is good at that. Too bad, he’s a lousy cameraman.

We went to Dover yesterday. It was time for my biannual hip appointment. Everything is still where it is supposed to be and there is no deterioration. Maybe I’ll have this one for the rest of my life. I’ll tell you one thing. I’d fo it again. It really works.

Afterwards, we went to Joann’s. I found some flannel backed vinyl for deck chair covers that I liked. I bought another ruler for quilting. You can never have enough of those. And I got a plastic case for my big RA embroidery spools. I made sure it was big enough by going over to the Viking center and trying it out with a spool from their display. Sadly, I didn’t get any from Viking. This one has so much less than what I am used to.

Our next stop was Target. What a weird parking arrangement that one has. But, they had the wire storage blocks that we wanted. We bought two sets and Doug put them together when we got home. Then he carried the stuff from the other bins and put them in the new ones. Once the old one was emptied, he rearranged it to fit on the new one. I went through a lot of my yarn and I have four bags so far that I don’t want. I also found a purple wrap I designed and made that I have never worn so that goes too.

They went to the cat torturer today and got two shots. Flo weighs six pounds and Cora weighs eight. I have been trying for over a week to get them to the vet. Doug doesn’t help matters any. When a cat is at the door, he opens it without a thought in his head. I am so glad that I don’t have to make an appointment. Otherwise, I probably would have killed my husband by now.

Frank is coming sometime between the next week and the next month to move some walls. So we have to move stuff. Arg. I need to move my fabric shelves into my yarn room. I started clearing a wall for it so I dragged bags and boxes into our bedroom and dumped them on the bed. I started bags for Goodwill, trash, and of coures, knitting group. Doug was a good gopher and a lot of help. We really got a lot accomplished. I even have a nice poncho and scarf that I had made for a designer and some extra matching yarn. I only wore it a couple of times. It’s pink and gray–not to my liking. As a matter of fact, I have several skeins from that person that I’m getting rid of. After some thought, we decided to buy some more shelves to put in the yarn room. That way we can remove the fabric from one shelf and take it directly to the other shelf. You can never have enough shelves. I hate the thought of all the mess, but we need to make this house more useful to us. When everything is finished we will have two nice-sized bedrooms, each with it’s own nice bathroom and I’ll have all my own sewing/knitting room. Yeah!

Some call it “knitting back backwards”, but that’s more than I can stand. If you like entrelac and/or hate to purl, it’s a great skill to know. How do you do it? Oh, man! How do I explain it? Hold your yarn in your right hand and knit a few stitches. Closely watch what you are doing. Now, try to knit in the opposite direction, from left to right, creating the exact same appearance. This is how I taught myself to do it. It took a while and a lot of patience, but that’s what I did. This is not left hand knitting. Those stitches turn the other way and you want your to be the same whether you are going to from right to left or left to right. Keep at it untill all your stitches look the same.

Pretty soon, you’ll be turning out entrelac sweaters, scarves, hats and even socks. I’ve been thinking about entrelac gloves. But I still want to start with a ribbed wristband. Here is some inspiration.

I love entrelac and when I saw the ones in Think Outside the Socks, knew I had to make them. I am using Carnival from Sockotta which may be why the stitches are a little crappy. I am not making them as long as the pattern. These are summer socks and are not for warmth. People are supposed to say, “Oh, what cute socks” and look at me kind of funny. Don’t worry. I’m used to it. But, I bet my feet are prettier than theirs.

My enterlac has been looking pretty ratty lately. I think it’s nearly twenty years old, so it’s time for a new one. I was thinking about using the Colinette that’s in the next drawer so I was looking around for a pattern or inspiration. Well, I discovered that two books on entrelac are coming out in the Fall. So, I’ll wait and see if they are any good. In the meantime, I’ll use the Colinette for a striped V-neck pullover which was my original intent. It will probably be a side to side because it’s easier to size as you go along.

I was surprised to see these this Iris growing out of the side of the old pier. I’m so glad I had my camera.

So I sewed. I pulled out fabric for a nightie and placements, but I had mending to do. I had a small hole in an old, but favorite summer shirt and my Pocahontas denim shirt needed an elbow patch. My machine has three darning stitches which I love. The patch really looks good. I decided to make two patches and put some embroidery on each. I didn’t have anything that I liked so I used Pumba from Lion King. I should have worked on it more because i had a lot of unnecessary jump stitches. It hung up a couple of times, but the results were good. Now, I have to decide on want to put on the other patch.

Last night, I called Doug when I reached the halfway point on the way home. he wanted me to stop and get subs. I told him I was bringing ham salad, chicken salad, macaroni salad, broccoli and cauliflower salad, Muenster cheese, swiss cheese, dried beef, and cheese bread. He still wanted subs. You never know.

We went to Carodan Farm Wool Shop in Chincoteague Island, VA. Betty wanted to exchange some yarn and Leslie and I went along for the ride. It’s a very nice little shop and we will definitely be going back. I was really happy to see Panda Silk, Panda Cotton and Panda Wool. They all make great socks. They had a great collection of sock yarns, but I resisted the urge to buy everything. Betty found some nice cremsickle cotton for her top and Leslie was very happy with all the Addi Turbo needles. Afterwards, we rode around the island for a while, then decided on Bill’s Seafood Restaurant for a late lunch. Even though we didn’t get seafood, we had a great and cheap lunch. The sandwiches were hearty and the coleslaw was the best I have ever tasted. The waitress was great so we left a nice tip.

I forgot my camera so here’s Cora enjoying the new hardwood floor. It feels so good on a hot day.

I was very pleasantly surprised to find Kiss My Face products at Wal-mart today. I don’t currently need anything, but I got lip balm and a travel kit to take with me when I go to Bismarck, ND.